5O WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



The Cuckoo builds no nest, but deposits its 

 eggs in that of another bird, often that of the 

 Hedge-Sparrow, which builds early, often before 

 the leaves are on the hedge. Its comfortable 

 nest, with its blue eggs, is known to every 

 schoolboy. From this we may draw the con- 

 clusion that birds do not know their own eggs 

 from those of others, even though they differ 

 in size and colouring. 



The Hawk often uses the old nests of other 

 birds, and the Jackdaw, Tree-Creeper, Tits, and 

 Starling look for holes in trees and walls in 

 which to deposit their eggs. The Lapwing lays 

 its eggs in a hole scooped out of the earth, and 

 the Swift is no nest-builder either, a hole in 

 the wall satisfying his wants. The Sand-Martin 

 burrows in holes made by its beak in the hard 

 sandstone banks, and the King-Fisher makes 

 use of an old hole of the Water Vole by the 

 water side in which to deposit her eggs and 

 rear her young. The House-Martin's nest lasts 

 for years, getting a little repair each year shortly 



